Reactivity in dogs, characterised by disproportionate responses to triggers including other dogs or strangers, causes welfare compromise for the dog and management challenges for owners that are amenable to evidence-based intervention.
Reactive dogs experience genuine welfare compromise because their reactive episodes involve acute fear or frustration that is aversive. Owners of reactive dogs often inadvertently manage the condition in ways that maintain or worsen it: avoiding all exposure prevents habitualisation, while forcing exposure without counter-conditioning increases negative associations. The reactive dog's welfare involves both the acute distress of reactive episodes and the chronic management restrictions that limit their environmental enrichment. Evidence-based intervention combining management to prevent reactive exposures while systematically desensitising to triggers at sub-threshold distances provides effective treatment. The owner-dog relationship is also affected; owner anxiety anticipating reactive episodes can transmit to dogs, escalating reactivity. Professional guidance from a certified trainer using positive methods is the appropriate first step.